While Confucian ideals continue to inspire thinkers and political actors, discussions of concrete Confucian practices and institutions appropriate for the modern era have been conspicuously absent from the literature thus far. This volume represents the most cutting edge effort to spell out in meticulous detail the relevance of Confucianism for the contemporary world. The contributors to this book - internationally renowned philosophers, lawyers, historians, and social scientists - argue for feasible and desirable Confucian policies and institutions as they attempt to draw out the political, economic, and legal implications of Confucianism for the modern world. The book is divided in three parts that correspond to the basic hallmarks of modernity as a social and political system - democracy, capitalism, and the rule of law.

' … rich, interdisciplinary volume … The authors have undoubtedly moved the ball forward by exploring the institutional ramifications of Confucianism for the contemporary world … this volume will provide interesting insights for those seeking to construct a more ambitious Confucian …'. China Quarterly
'The editors present the volume as a starting point for debate … More than that, the book contains much more food for thought, and is not only an insightful reflection on the challenges facing East Asian societies on their path to modernization, but more broadly on the tensions between local and global cultures, alongside a critical assessment of the relationship between ideals and norms and actual practices. This review has therefor no hesitation in recommending the volume …' Political Studies Review